POA, Inc. · 144 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118
Transcription
POA, Inc. · 144 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118
P r o t e c t o r s o f A n i m a l s POA, Inc. · 144 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118 N on P ro f it O RG A N I Z AT I O N U S P O S TAG E PA I D H A RT F O R D C T PE R M I T N O 5123 Hi! My name is Ellie. I’m a 9 year old Chihuahua Mix. I weigh only 6 lbs. I’m tiny but my heart is big. Please don’t let my age scare you off. I still have lots of life ahead of me. It’s not uncommon in fact it’s very common that I could live until I’m 17 years old. That’s another 8 years!!! •I’m a great girl who really just wants a lap Visit my profile at: wwwPOAinc.org to cuddle in. •I get along with other dogs. I enjoy going for walks. •I walk about a mile every day and love it. •I am good in the car too. 12 f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r POA News P r o t e c t o r s V o l u m e o f 1 3 · I s s u e A n i m a l s 3 · f a l l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 POA Rocks Out with Rock to the Rescue Do you love cats & dogs? Protectors of Animals, Inc. is looking for volunteers for the following positions: · Adoption Counselors · Animal Care · Animal Socialization · Dog Training & Handling · Transportation · Accounting · Fund Raising · Foster Care Homes · Medication · Grant Writing · Education Call 860·569·0722 We need your help! We will train in all positions. POA is a non-profit, all volunteer, no kill organization which rescues primarily abandoned, stray and impounded cats & dogs. POA rocked-out with the band Styx on August 24th at Mohegan Sun through the band’s non-profit organization, Rock to the Rescue Foundation. Founded by Styx in 2002, Rock to the Rescue promotes community by supporting local, grassroots organizations in each one of its venues. Hanna Shaw, daughter of Styx member, Tommy Shaw, and director of the foundation, invited POA to be the small charity that would benefit from the foundation’s concert raffle. (Shaw often focuses on animal charities, but also on Hannaa Shaw and POA volunteers. Continued on page 4 Several Grants for TNR and Spay/Neuter Awarded to POA The POA grant committee has been successful in securing several grants to support our mission to reduce the overpopulation of cats and dogs through spaying and neutering. Best Friends Animal Society, in partnership with PetSmart Charities, has awarded POA a grant for $9,990 to spay and neuter close to 225 feral cats in the East Hartford area. POA is a participating member of the No More Homeless Pets® Network, a program of Best Friends Animal Society, which offers help and support to animal rescue groups that save lives in their communities. Through this grant, homeless, free-roaming cats are sterilized, using P OA N e w trap-neuter-return (TNR), the widely accepted, humane method of controlling populations of feral cats. The cats are also vaccinated. “This grant means that we can increase our TNR efforts to help our community cats,” said Continued on page 4 s P r o t e c t P OA New s is a p u b l i c ati on o f o r s o f A n i m a l s ve nt & Fu ndR asing eFALL 2013Events / WINTER Protectors of Animals, Inc. 144 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118 and is published four times a year. Fall/Winter 2013 Events Event Date & Time N e ws l ett er Sta ff Kerry Bartoletti, Sushama Dhakite, Susan Dimmock, Stacey Doan, Ron Plante, Gregory M. Simpson, Sara Taylor and Linda Williams. P OA PHONE NUMBERS PetSmart Adoption Weekend Nov. 15, 5pm - 7pm Nov. 16, 10am - 2pm Nov. 17, 10am - 2pm POA Holiday Fair Nov 23 9am to 3pm PetSmart Charities Pictures with Santa Dec. 7 & Dec. 14 11am to 4pm Location PetSmart Putnam Plaza 5 Main St. East Hartford St. Paul’s Church Hall, 40 Naubuc Ave., Glastonbury PetSmart, Putnam Plaza 5 Main St. East Hartford Host PetSmart POA Attending POA Fundraising Event PetSmart POA Attending InInaddition additiontotothe theevents eventsabove: above: Cat Shelter Saturday Unit OO,East E. Hartford Cat Shelter SaturdayHours HoursOpen OpenHouse, House 144 144Main MainSt., St Unit Hartford, CT. Every Saturday 10:30am - 4pm Every Saturday 10:30am-4pm, Third Sunday of every month 10am - 2 pm, other days & evenings by appointment. ThirdDog Sunday 10am-2pm, other days evenings5 by appointment. POA Meetof &every Greetmonth every 1st and 3rd Saturday at & PetSmart, Main St. E. Hartford Cat Adoption: 860·569·0722 Dog Adoption: 860·569·0722 P OA Office rs President: Jody Macrina Vice President: Stacey Doan Secretary: Sara Taylor Treasurer: Zachary Stewart P OA Mee ti ngs Meetings are held in May and October on the third Tuesday of these months at 7:30 pm at the POA Adoption Center, 144 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118 Phone: 860·569·0722 The annual meeting is held on the third Tuesday in May with officer elections held every-other year. Visit us on the web at www.poainc.org or www.petfinder.org and follow the links to Protectors of Animals, Inc. in East Hartford, CT. WE H O N O R TH E FOU ND ING WO ME N O F PROT EC TORS O F A N IMA L S, I NC . Dru Harder Trudy Samsom Hildur Sullivan POA Appreciates Volunteers! POA gave “three cheers” for its dedicated volunteers on Volunteer Appreciation Day! It was held Saturday, September 21st, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Hartford, and throngs of dedicated POA helpers came out to enjoy the beautiful fall weather, food and games. Every volunteer f a l l / w i n t e r was celebrated with a Certificate of Appreciation and a POA baseball cap. The Events Committee did a splendid job of coordinating the festivities and ensuring that a good time was had by all. Thank you, everyone, for all you do!!! POA has relied on community support since it began and volunteers are needed more than ever. If you would like to get involved, please visit our web site at www. poainc.org for a list of volunteer opportunities and to download an application. 2 0 1 3 q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r Memberships, Gift Memberships and Memorial Donations Contributions - A contribution can be made to a specific areas such as spay and neuter, vet costs, cat adoption center, dog division or general fund. of your gift and we will also send a note of your gift to whomever you would like. The person receiving your gift membership will receive a free one-year subscription to POA News! Memberships - Support Protectors of Animals, Inc. with a membership donation. Your annual membership donation includes a free subscription to POA News! Memorial Donations - People often want to do something special in recognition of a significant event. It might be a happy occasion like a birthday or anniversary tribute. It might be in times of sadness: the death of a family member, friend or beloved animal. All memorial and pet memorial names are listed in a special section of POA News. Gift Memberships - A gift membership to Protectors of Animals, Inc. would be a great gift for that person who has everything. You will receive an acknowledgement All donations to Protectors of Animals, Inc. are always greatly appreciated and we use them directly for the benefit of the stray, abandoned and abused animals we rescue! Please complete the form below and send with your contribution to: Protectors of Animals, Inc. 144 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118 Membership Gift Membership $25 Individual Membership $35 Family Membership Your Information Name Memorial Donation Address Contribution $50 $100 Other _______ City State Zip State Zip Phone Email Payment Information Gift Membership Information I would like to pay by check: Check Number: Name (Please make checks payable to POA.) Address City I would like to pay by credit card: Credit Card Number: Phone Expiration Date: Memorial Information Your phone number: In Memory of Signature: By Please send this completed form with your contribution to: Protectors of Animals, Inc., 144 Main St., East Hartford, CT 06118 P OA N e w s 11 P r MEMORIALS o t e c t o r s o f A n i m a l Honors Continue for Linda Williams - Continued from page 9 In memory of “Sam” (Cheryl and Jerry Smith’s buddy) by: Charles & Rosalba Blaszyk In memory of “Sid” and “Lana” by: Alison & Antonio Caxide Just when it seems we can’t thank her more for her years of service to POA, Linda Williams continues to receive accolades for her devotion to POA and immersion into animal rescue. East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc declared September 17 “Protectors of Animals Day” in East Hartford, in honor of Linda’s dedication and compassion to the cause, and for her and POA’s contribution to the homeless animals of East Hartford. In memory of Sophia Slusarz by: Andrea Slusarz Peter & Susan Francasso In memory of “Spalley” by: Michelle Maynard In memory of “Symba” by: Shelly Lutzker In memory of Theodore Dombrowski by: Linda & James Williams Finding a Forever Home…Priceless! With so many older and special needs cats looking for qualified, permanent and loving homes, POA decided to show the community that adopting one of these cats is truly priceless! For two days in August, POA let adopters decide what their donation would be for adopting from among a select group of cats. These specially chosen cats were the ones nearest and dearest to our hearts, often overlooked because they are either seniors or FIV positive. There is a person out there for every one of them and this innovative event raised awareness about these cats and found homes for Alex, an FIV cat, and for senior cats Charlie and Bentley! Although the event has passed, you can find out about other amazing cats for adoption by visiting our web site at www.poainc.org. As witnessed by the East Hartford Town Council at their September 17, 2013 meeting, and with an audience of over 20 POA volunteers, board members, and supporters, and other East Hartford residents, Mayor Leclerc presented the honor to Linda, stating in her proclamation, “Whereas Linda has immersed herself in POA’s mission of animal rescue and the organization has been reaping the benefits of Linda’s hard work, dedication and compassion for 15 years…Let it be known that I, Marcia Leclerc, Mayor of the great Town of East Hartford am proud to join with animal lovers, family and friends to proclaim this day September 17th, Protectors of Animals Day in honor of Linda Williams.” The honor was initiated by Councillor Linda Russo, a long-time supporter of POA, and friend of Linda Williams. POA Attends United Spay Alliance State Leaders Retreat POA was excited to join representatives from 20 states at the sixth annual United Spay Alliance (USA) spay/neuter retreat in Jacksonville Beach, FL held October 7th through October 10th. USA is a national coalition of independent state spay/neuter referral programs, focused on getting the message out about the importance of spay/neuter and providing resources for affordable spay/neuter services. including assistance programs, low-cost clinics, and private veterinarians who offer reduced cost services. “People want to take care of their pets but are not always sure where to go for affordable spay/neuter services,” said POA President Jody Macrina. “We are looking forward to launching our referral service to help prevent unwanted litters and reduce the number of homeless animals that result from these litters.” POA was recently invited to join the USA coalition as the Connecticut state representative and will be launching SPAY CT in early 2014. The SPAY CT hotline and web site will act as a source for reasonably priced, accessible spay/neuter program information in the Connecticut area, The yearly USA retreat is a chance for state representatives to network with peers, share ideas for promoting spay/neuter, and to learn from workshops and presentations. This year’s educational programs included grant writing in the online world, building community alliances, and communication channels to get the message out. The retreat served as a unique opportunity to share and learn from colleagues in other states, and POA was thrilled to be among like-minded animal welfare professionals! Jody Macrina and Kerry Bartoletti of POA engage in group discussion at USA Retreat 10 f a l s l / w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 q u a r t e r l y N GoodNews Letters e w s l e t t e r Needed... Clean & Feed Volunteers penny Little Penny graduated from obedience class last night! So I wanted to send you a picture of the big event. Penny’s been doing pretty well, we’re so proud! She’s been going to daycare about once a week and plays with most of my family and friends’ dogs very well! Emily pa c o & Ch i p Hello! Two awesome best friends! Paco and Chip!! They are always together! This is what goes on when Pat gets home from work! Hope you are well! Many hugs! Melody & Patrick buddy We found out his name! It’s Buddy. Every time one of us passed him, we would say “Hey buddy are you going to come out and see us soon?” Then we would pet him and love him. He began to answer us when we said “Hey Buddy”. He would give a mew in return and jump out for some loving! Well the name stuck! Buddy it is, and he is doing great. Diane zip s & Zig Za g Zips and Zig Zag make themselves at home in my office chair - a favorite place to hangout even if I am only gone a minute (second only to their special bed and blanket during the day). If they are not sleeping, they are snuggling or engaging in an entertaining and merry chase throughout the house. We look forward to a long and happy life with Zips and Zig Zag. Christina, Pete, Tyler & Cory for the POA Cat Adoption Center and PetSmart locations. We will train! Call: 860-569-0722 keko Things have been going really well with Keko and Gracie. They got along really well today on our hike. Keko has not tried to escape at all and has been really great on walks. Right now he is sleeping next to me on the couch, catching up on some z’s after our long walks. We absolutely love him and we are so excited to have him in our family. Audrey and Alex Experienced Dog Handlers Needed bobby It was one year on September 1st that Bobby (Mow Mow) joined our family. I just want to let everyone know that he is doing wonderfully. As you can see by the photo, his favorite time of day is dinnertime. He is quite the ball of energy, and still plays like a kitten. Thank you, POA for my Bobby! Patty P OA N e To train and rehabilitate dogs at our Wethersfield & East Hampton locations Evening Daytime Weekend Shifts Call 860-569-0722 w s P r POA ROCKS o t e c t The raffle featured an electric guitar, signed by Styx members. The winners were Korine s o f A n i m a l s and Bob, a couple celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary! Approximately $7,000 worth of tickets were sold to benefit Rock to the Rescue and POA, with POA taking home 25%, or $1,800, in a cash contribution. POA volunteers had a great time and would love to participate in another Rock to the Rescue event in the future. POA sends a big thank-you to Styx, Hanna Shaw and the Rock to the Rescue Foundation! Bob & Korinne, winners of the electric guitar. - Continued from page 1 POA president Jody Macrina. “We would like to thank Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Charities for their support in making this project a great success.” Another grant aimed to humanely reduce the feral cat population was awarded to POA by the CT Department of Agriculture’s Animal Population Control Program. This grant provides vouchers for the TNR CAT CENTER Wish List The Cat Adoption Center is always in need of the following items since they are used up continually. If you can donate any of the below, please call 860-569-0722 or drop off at Cat Adoption Center, 144 Main St., East Hartford between 7:30-9:30 am any day or on Saturday’s from 7:30-3:30. · Paper towels · Tall kitchen garbage bags - .6ml & up · Brooms, dust pans, sponge mops and mop heads · Hand Sanitizer · Disposable Latex Gloves - Medium · Ajax Antibacterial Dish Soap · Bleach - must contain 6% sodium hypochlorite · Copier Paper - white, pink, blue, red, light green, bright yellow · Stamps Also needed are: ·R ent sponsors For monthly adoption center rent ·M onetary Donations For Veterinarian Costs · Sponsors for Litter & Canned Food Expenses r - Continued from page 1 music education and health.) The arena was full and POA volunteer Stacey Doan and Shaw staffed the busy main table, visited by adoring fans of Hanna and the band and to-be fans of POA, while POA members Joanna Azzara, Michelle Dixon, Kristen Gibson, Laura Goldner, Cindy Gokey, Ineke Murphy, and Christine Penney worked, selling as many raffle tickets as possible. GRANTS o f a l l of 75 feral cats. POA is grateful to once again be awarded these vouchers. for awarding this grant that offsets our veterinary expenses! POA was also the recipient of an ASPCA grant in the amount of $5,000 for the spaying/neutering of shelter cats prior to adoption. Surgical sterilization of animals prior to adoption is the only way to ensure that POA’s animals will not add to the animal overpopulation problem. POA extends sincere appreciation to the ASPCA Most of the dogs rescued by POA are saved from local area pounds. Those dogs, upon adoption, are released with a state-supported sterilization voucher, which covers canine spay/neuter and vaccinations. Since local pounds don’t typically handle cats, it is up to local rescues that work with cats to find grantors to support TNR activities. LOW COST CAT SPAY & NEUTER OPTIONS H.O.P.E. Spay/Neuter Clinic - 130 Scott Rd., Waterbury, CT Hascost thespay/neuter cost of getting cat oratdog neutered, vaccinated been keeping you Low andyour vaccines the spayed, time of surgery fororcats and dogs. from doing the right thing? If so, many low-cost options are available throughout the For information call 203-437-7955 or visit. www.hopect.org. area. Please call for up-to-date pricing, hours of operation and appointment information. Many offer special pricing for pit bulls/pit mixes, feral cats and rescue organizations. Among them, include: Central CT Cat Project Monthly low cost spay/neuter (includes vaccinations) clinics for cats. For information call 860-828-5287 or visit www.fobac.org. Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society Spay/Neuter Clinic 171 Union St., Springfield, MA Low cost spay/neuter and vaccines at the time of surgery for cats and dogs. For information call 413-781-4019 or visit www.dpvhs.org. H.O.P.E. Spay/Neuter Clinic - 130 Scott Rd., Waterbury, CT Low cost spay/neuter and vaccines at the time of surgery for cats and dogs. For information call 203-437-7955 or visit www.hopect.org. Rhode Island Community Spay/Neuter Clinic - 235 Elm St., Warwick, RI Low cost spay/neuter and vaccines at the time of surgery for cats and dogs. For information call 401-369-PAWS or visit www.ricsnc.org. TEAM Mobile Feline Unit Low cost spay/neuter and vaccines for cats. For information call Toll-free: 1-888-FOR-TEAM (888-367-8326) or visit www.everyanimalmatters.org. / w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r Memorials and Honorarium “There is an Indian legend which says when a human dies there is a bridge they must cross to enter into heaven. At the head of that bridge waits every animal that human encountered during their lifetime. The animals, based upon what they know of this person, decide which humans may cross the bridge. . . and which are turned away.” In memory of “Buddy”, may he be reunited with his mother “Lady Jane” and sister “Rosie” by: Ken Sek and Nancy Palinski In honor of Aidan and Jake Muldoon by: Alan Paneccasio Aaron & Deborah Dalton Juliet Feery Anonymous In memory of Angela Kergaravat by: Rosalie Ondrush Diane Fiedorowicz In memory of Anne Matulis by: David & Donna Matulis In honor of Brayden Metcalfe by: Oralie Metcalfe In memory of Brian Jeffries by: William Green In memory of “Butterscotch” by: Sally Harris In memory of “Chudleigh” by: Joan Lunden In memory of Dwayne Mott by: Anna Goliszek In memory of Edward J. Gracyalny by: Anne-Louise Gracyalny In honor of Eileen Spear by: Joan Schroder In honor of “General Meow” by: Amanda Lee Aponte In memory of “Havoc” by: Betsey Smith In memory of “Hazel” by: Christine Marcin In memory of Julia Featherstone by: Harold Featherstone In memory of Janice Pane by: Sophia Sharkevich Ronna Gruninger Bob & Donna Dean Kari & Eric Mull Natalie Bradley Henry & Adele Mazzie Judith Greiner In memory of Mary Scanlin Bouton by: Mimi Lines Sharon Marks In memory of Patricia Berry by: Robert Berry Marge Gingras Jamie Anglin Lori Feigner Joel Werner Anonymous Elaine Praus Mary Spellacy In honor of Jasminen Varni by: Cindy Varni In memory of Joan Zawachi by: Beverly & Edmund Collins In memory of Robert Brennan by: Joyce & Edward Willing In honor of Pat & Anne’s cat “Johnny” by: Michael & Jean Festa In memory of “Rosemary” by: Edward McNevin In honor of Joy DeNardo by: Phyllis Morra In memory of Wallace Inkpen by: Barbara-Ann Rossi Ann Cameron Polly Chamberlain Sonia Betz Michael & Janice Walsh Richard Merritt Robert Pasek Wayne Newton Deborah McDonald Peter Camarco Deborah Fill Maureen Gilbert CT Association Of Assessing Officers Prudence Legeyt-Cleary L.J. Rho James & Renee McDonald Sheila & Ted Connolly Thomas Caputi Town Of East Hartford, The Assessor’s Office Randall & Denise Cook R.F. Haggerty & Associates Barbara McKay Patricia Consaluo Nancy Nolan James & Diane Stebbins Evelyn Gilbert Michelle Enman Scott & Lois Fay Louis Gilbert In memory of Lillian Peterson by: Thomas Ventre Joseph Carlson Barbara Snyder Don & Donna Wright Cathy Smith Suzanne Dunnell Nancy Butts Linda & James Williams Barbara-Ann Rossi Clarine Nardi Riddle E. Hartford Democratic Town Committee Shereen Edelson Board Of Commissioners & EHHA Staff, East Hartford Housing Authority Janice & Michael Walsh Margaret Foran Karl & Barbara Albrecht Jill Wright Carolyn Querijero East Hartford Democratic Town Committee- 4th District Prescille Yamamoto Robert & Shelly Langer Patricia Pac & Paul LeTendre Joyce Macrina Paul & Delcie Thibault Lesia Cuipka Bongiovanni Martin Margulies In memory of Lorraine Hall by: Donna Hryb In memory of Walter Eger by: Gertrude & Stephen Donohue Hildur SullivanJudith Beganski Susan Paulson Angela Canneto Debra Hunt In memory of Louise Papallo by: Susan Weronik In memory of “Maggie” by: Michael Bagley In memory of Mark Sebastian by: Gary & Christine Goetz Continued on page 10 Illustration by Bonnie Demanche P OA N e w s P r o t e c t An FIV+ Cat is Not a Death Sentence! o Call 860-569-0722 to speak with an intake/placement volunteer about FIV and adoption. You can also view all of our FIV cats on our website, www.poainc.org. While checking them out, be sure to click on testimonials to hear from some of the adopters of our FIV cats! archie While not sure if Archie was born in March, he definitely has the qualities that define that month. Archie is a gentle and sweet guy, who loves attention and when you pet him, this lamb will purr....like a lion! He likes other cats and would be fine with a friend. This big handsome boy has a beautiful golden coat that has thinned a little around one eye, probably due to an injury he received on the streets as a stray. The perfect mix of majestic and mellow, Archie would love a quiet home to call his own. Please call the shelter in advance if you want to visit this kitty! oz a l o f A Oreo is a 3 year old, neutered male. Oreo came to the shelter after being found as a stray and we can’t imagine why. This sweet and friendly boy loves to be petted and is very curious and active. He would love to have his exercise time with you. When it comes to Oreo, you need not look any further. Come and see his sweet personality for yourself! suni Suni is an approximately 2 year old, spayed female, orange tabby domestic short hair cat. She was found as a stray kitty with her kittens. She is warming up to the idea of people caring about her. She is tiny and likes to bury her head in your arms. She would love to be in a home where she can come out of her shell and what a great companion she can be! l n i m a l FIV Facts Courtesy of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary 1. The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus is a slow virus that affects a cat’s immune system over a period of years. 2. FIV is a cat-only disease and cannot be spread to humans or other non-felines. 3. FIV cats most often live long, healthy, and relatively normal lives with no symptoms at all. 4. FIV is not easily passed between cats. It cannot be spread casually: in litter boxes, water and food bowls, or when snuggling and playing. It is rarely spread from a mother to her kittens. 5. The virus can be spread through blood transfusions, badly infected gums, or serious, penetrating bite wounds. (Bite wounds of this kind are extremely rare, except in free-roaming, unneutered tomcats). buster Buster is a 4 year old, neutered male tiger. There is no getting around it, Buster is a big, big boy!! So handsome and stately, he is a very commanding presence in his cat condo. Buster doesn’t want you to get the wrong idea. Though, he may seem like a serious, tough guy, it is in looks only. A mellow, friendly boy who was found as a stray, he is eagerly looking forward to a new beginning. Buster and his super-sized paws are waiting to meet you at the shelter today! 6. A neutered cat, in a home, is extremely unlikely to infect other cats, if properly introduced. 7. Many vets are not educated about FIV since the virus was only discovered fifteen years ago. 8. FIV positive cats should be kept as healthy as possible. Keep them indoors and free from stress, feed them a high-quality diet, and treat secondary problems as soon as they arise. Help Grow POA’s Membership Oz is 4 year old, neutered male, white and black domestic medium hair cat. Oz knew he wasn’t in Kansas anymore when he lost his home. But where he comes from, petting is the big thing and he will just rub all over you in sheer delight while you enjoy massaging his bunny-fluff, soft fur coat. Oz extends his friendliness to the company of other cats too, and with his sweet and mellow personality you will truly tell yourself “There is no place like home with Oz”! f s oreo Consider opening your hearts and homes to a cat with FIV. They are some of the most loving cats we have ever seen and we know they will win your hearts over as soon as you see them. r POA is trying to build its membership to create a louder voice for Connecticut’s animals. Please help us by spreading the word. Do you know other animal lovers? Perhaps family members, friends or co-workers, who might be interested in becoming a member of Protectors of Animals? If so, feel free to offer them a membership application (last page of this newsletter), or encourage them to visit our website where they can download our membership application. If every existing member found just one new member, we’d double POA’s membership! As POA’s membership grows and strengthens, so does POA, allowing us to better affect Connecticut animals. Thank you in advance for your help, and thank YOU for being a member! / w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 s q u a r t e r l y Cat & Dog Donations Needed N e w s l e t t e r “A View Volunteered” … bond of love Cat Food: Canned: Friskies Turkey & Giblet Classic Pate, Mixed Grill Classic Pate, Country Style Dinner Classic Pate, Supreme Supper Classic Pate, Beef & Chicken Special Diet Classic Pate, Liver & Chicken Dinner Classic Pate. (NO shredded, chunk, sliced and NO FISH types of canned food) Dry: Purina, Meow Mix, any IAMS or Science Diet, Pro Plan or any other good quality dry food. (NO Treats like, Pounce, Wisker Lickin’s, etc.) Kitten Food: Canned: Friskies kitten food or any other good quality canned kitten food (NO fish product). Dry: Friskies or Purina Kitten Chow or any other good quality dry kitten food. Cat Litter: Any type of Pine Litter or Clay Scented Litter, any brand. (NO scoopable please). Occasionally someone will ask me where I get ideas for this column. Some are long held views, e.g., that cats should be indoor only companions and that it is inhumane to declaw. Other columns come from personal experiences such as soliciting in front of a department store or working at a shelter. saying “God bless you” for the dollars we left in his tin can, he added, “Most amazing cat I’ve ever seen.” “Take good care of him,” we encouraged, for lack of anything more profound to say, but also reflective of our worry that they would both be okay. “I will,” he said confidently. And then we were past them in the bustling crowd. So it was that my wife and I were walking down an especially crowded Fifth Avenue in mid-town Manhattan two days before New Year’s Eve when we witnessed a remarkable sight. A couple hours later, as the sun was setting, we were making our way back to Grand Central Terminal on the opposite side of Fifth Avenue. Looking across the street, we could see through the throng of shoppers and sightseers that the man and the cat were still in the same spot, accepting donations which would bring them sustenance. A homeless man was sitting on a milk crate with his head resting on his chest. Next to him was a cat! The gray and white feline sat quietly and seemingly contentedly, on a towel next to dishes of water and dry food. We were stunned! Thousands were passing by, including occasional individuals walking dogs. Yet the cat sat stoically without any sort of tether, without as much as a twitch of its tail. Cat Toys: Any small catnip filled toy. Feathers on sticks. Little mice. Containers of dry Cat Nip. Cat Bedding: Must be totally washable. (No items containing foam please). Dog Food: Dry: Pro Plan, Purina One any other good quality brand (regular variety, although we could use a bit of weightcontrol formulas too). Canned: Any good quality canned dog food. We had seen cats in Manhattan before, of course, but generally in places like outside a Chinatown grocery store or sitting in a bookstore window. We know from our own lives filled with felines that cats are amazing creatures. My wife’s favorite cat will ride in a bicycle basket without being tied in as my wife bicycles around our neighborhood. Our cat, Lucky, previously a stray, decided he wanted to join our household one winter night, so he wrapped his two front legs around my leg and wouldn’t let go. But we had never witnessed anything like this cat on Fifth Avenue, not far from where Audrey Hepburn immortalized the character, Holly Golightly, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, when she, too, befriended a homeless cat. Dog Toys & Treats: Milkbone soft “chewy” treats. Snausages, Scooby Snacks, Milkbone biscuits, beef or chicken sticks, edible flavored Nylabones. Dentabones and Dentastix, rawhide chewies. Toys: Kongs (any size) and kong fillers (cookies or paste), tennis balls, fetch toys, soft toys to cuddle with. Dog Bedding: Soft, washable, dog cushions/dog pillows/dogdonuts. Blankets: soft to cuddle up on. Dog Collars, Leashes: or No-Pull Harness: (Any size, any color), “no-pull” harnesses are always needed. Halti Head Collars, leashes, Martingale & Easy-Walk Harnesses. Donations can be dropped off at the POA Cat Adoption Center, 144 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06118. Please call for times that volunteers will be there before coming. (860) 569-0722 Our conversation with the homeless man was brief as my wife petted his special feline companion. After P OA N e Although the man and the cat seemed settled in their routine, my wife and I continued to worry. How would they both survive in the winter cold? Where would they go at night? What shelter could be found for both a man and a cat? Would the two become separated? We found no answers to these questions, of course. “How could a homeless man take care of a cat?” my wife asked me. “I don’t know, but what I do know is that cat wouldn’t stay if there wasn’t a bond of love, commitment and companionship between them.” We had but briefly touched the lives of these two homeless souls, from two different species, one called human and the other called feline. We will always remember the man and his companion cat. It is clear that these two beings have a bond of love such as Corinthians defines: “Love is patient, love is kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” We wish them both well in their life’s travels together. For the animals, Gregory M. Simpson w s P r o t e c t o r s o f A n i m a l s A Bountiful Fall Season for POA The end of summer and onset of fall brought a flurry of firsts for POA! On August 25th, POA joined in the fun in Farmington at the final leg of Bozzuto’s 13th annual Dream Ride, a procession of motorcycle enthusiasts from West Palm Beach, FL to Connecticut. Sponsored by CT grocery wholesaler Bozzuto’s, the Dream Ride benefits the Special Olympics. For the first time in the history of the Dream Ride, POA and several other animal rescue organizations were invited to take part in the celebration. As a participant, In yet another first, POA and our dog Charley were given the celebrity treatment in the September 20th edition of People’s web magazine! Within 12 hours the story resulted in a donation to POA! To see the story, visit http://www.peoplepets.com/people/ pets/article/0,,20736656,00.html ff aa ll ll POA qualified for a matching funds grant from the Hometown Foundation, Bozzuto’s non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of life for individuals and families in their hometowns and communities. Any donations received by POA between August 15 and September 15 were eligible for a match from the Hometown Foundation up to $10,000. POA received $25,000 of donations during this period and the Foundation kindly and generously gave us $10,000 more! Although the Cam Jammers Auto Club 2013 Spring Car show to benefit POA took place in the spring, we wanted to let everyone know about the success of this event! POA was the very grateful recipient of a check from Cam Jammers for $1,657.53. A Windsor, CT, based auto club since 1959, Cam Jammers began hosting car shows 15 years ago with all proceeds going to local charities. Thank you to the Cam Jammers Board of Directors and volunteers for working hard to make the day so successful! AND, Cam Jammers’ Board of Directors has decided to keep POA as their charity of choice again next year! We’ll be there on May 3, 2014 for another great day! Cam Jammers present POA Vice-President, Stacey Doan, with check. // ww ii nn tt ee In early September, POA was invited, also for the first time, to be a vendor at the Hebron Harvest Fair, held from September 5th through September 8th. POA’s involvement was facilitated by Carl Zirkenbach, owner of the Marlborough Barn and a member of the Lions Club, and Bob Ferris, POA volunteer, who both worked to secure prime location for POA at the Hebron fairgrounds. The fair broke attendance records this year, and POA had the wonderful opportunity to reach tens of thousands of people, many from the small eastern CT towns, which are important supporters of POA! The Hebron Fair brought in just over $1,000 dollars. It also brought us some great publicity, with Senator Richard Blumenthal dropping by to say hello as well! Our volunteers made the most of this occasion with a raffle and sales of tee shirts, sweatshirts and travel mugs. Raffle prizes included gift baskets and a top prize of an invisible fence system, this last donated by John Gagnon’s Pet Resort. The winner of the fence is the Scott Lotzkar family of East Hartford. They have 2 Mastiff’s (Maddie 6 years and Baxter 2 years). They are thrilled to have won the fence and are now interested in volunteering for POA! The winner of the dog basket was Justin Gibson, and the winner of the cat basket was Mary Knowles. rr 22 00 11 33 q u a r t e r l y N e w s l e t t e r Dog Group Launches PetSmart Team Photos from the Other Side POA Animals in Their New Homes POA is accentuating its long-time partnership with PetSmart by introducing the newly created PetSmart Dog Adoption Team. This effort will increase exposure to and adoption of our dogs and extend our direct reach with the public. The team will be at the PetSmart East Hartford location on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., showcasing a sampling of POA dogs that are up for adoption. Active adoption prospects are welcome to visit PetSmart on these days to meet our team and that day’s group of visiting dogs. Mia (formerly River) gets a matching coat to hang out with her new pals! Allie practicing her acceptance speech for Miss Doggy America! The dog ambassador team deepens POA’s existing relationship with PetSmart. For the last three years POA has been providing adoptable cats to PetSmart East Hartford for in-house exhibition and adoption and supporting this endeavor with a dedicated team of ambassadors and clean-and-feed volunteers. We’ve also made many appearances with our dogs at PetSmart on an ad hoc basis. Mairead says life in her new home could not be better! The PetSmart Foundation supports POA’s mission with at-store perks for adopters, and large grants for capital improvements. Thor (formerly Ola) hopes he grows into his rather large paws! Linus (Flynn) is all tuckered out after a day ofplay! Angus (formerly Timmie) slows down for a moment to pose with his Jack O’ Lantern! Members of the POA Dog PetSmart Team pose in full Halloween regalia. From L to R, Lisa Barnett, Noelle Fairclough, and Carolyn Bator, with dogs Gracie, Papi, and Molly, respectively. Sir William enjoying his first camping trip! P OA N e w s